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Titans cornerback Tommie Campbell dealt with shoulder issues for six years before he had surgery last November to repair them.

But the right shoulder still didn't feel right until recently, when Campbell had a follow-up procedure.

"It's finally starting to feel right again,'' Campbell said.

In fact, it feels so good it feels odd to him.

"I am so used to compensating for it and protecting my arm because it would pop out, and now it is not popping out and shifting, and it is weird to me,'' he said. "I'm just glad it's finally right."

This time last year Campbell was battling Alterraun Verner for a starter's spot. Coaches awarded the job to Verner, who went on to have a Pro Bowl season and land a free-agent contract with the Buccaneers. Campbell played in eight games on special teams and went on injured reserve in November because of the shoulder injury.

The recent surgery was to remove some screws that had been irritating him.

Now, Campbell is heading into his fourth NFL season. He's familiar with the new defensive scheme because he spent some time in a similar defense in college, and he likes what he's seen from new defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

"He is laid back, you really don't hear him at practice,'' Campbell said. "But whenever he does he gets his point across, and his door is always open."

Campbell needs to get his point across if he's going to be on the field this fall. He's considered an underdog to unseat Coty Sensabaugh and Blidi Wreh-Wilson, among others, in the competition to replace Verner. Veteran Jason McCourty has the other starting position locked up.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Campbell is "working his way back into it, and he is working hard. I appreciate how he has handled his rehab.''

Campbell knows he needs to make some noise in this week's minicamp and in training camp, which begins late next month.

"It is going to be an exciting year for me, and I just want to do everything right and not shoot myself in the foot. I just want to give myself a fair chance,'' Campbell told The Tennesseanearlier this offseason. "No regrets. The only regret I have is not doing the things I needed to do when I needed to be doing them. You learn from it and keep it moving."